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Huddersfield Giants and Hull FC will both look to put their heart-breaking Challenge Cup exits behind them when they do battle in the First Utility Super League at the KC Stadium on Thursday night.

The Giants have had just three days to lick their wounds from Sunday's last-gasp 17-16 defeat by St Helens but coach Paul Anderson is confident there will be no hangover.

"The schedule has not been great but we're not using that as an excuse," Anderson said.

"We knew we only had a short turnaround and we've done everything we can to cope with it."

Like Huddersfield, Hull went out of the cup to a last-minute drop goal and coach Lee Radford can see the similarities as both clubs look to kick-start their league campaigns after making disappointing starts.

"Huddersfield find themselves in a very similar situation to ourselves in that they were fancied at the start of the year and have been a little bit inconsistent with their performances," Radford said.

"They're not in a good run at the moment and they got knocked out of the Challenge Cup by one point too last week in controversial circumstances so they're exactly where we are at the moment.

"At this stage, either team will take a result however it comes but we also want to show some consistency in our performances.

"In four or five games now this season, we've been dominant for long periods only for missed tackles and sloppy errors to allow the opposition back into the game too easily.

"That's something we want to put right and we need to make sure the opposition have to fight for every point they get."

Hull are boosted by the return from suspension of skipper Gareth Ellis while former Warrington Wolves prop Garreth Carvell is back from injury.

There is no place for centre Ben Crooks, a member of the 2013 Super League Dream Team who looks set for a spell with Championship club Doncaster.

Huddersfield have lost England second rower Brett Ferres to suspension following his dismissal in the cup match while utility forward David Faiumu has returned to New Zealand on compassionate leave.

That has paved the way for Ukuma Ta'ai, Josh Johnson and Jacob Fairbank to earn call-ups, while Larne Patrick is only a week away from an anticipated return from a broken kneecap.

Ferres has issued a public apology for his sending-off and Anderson has accepted the five-match ban.

"It could have been a lot worse," Anderson said. "It was unfortunate.

"Brett's not a malicious player. He's not a bloke who is getting cautions every week. He's a very fair and very tough player and it was an unfortunate accident."